Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the recommendations made in Review of the Regulatory Burden: IACS and Inspections in Scotland have been implemented in full or in part and what progress has been made in, and what targets set for the completion of, the implementation of the remaining recommendations.

Ross Finnie: 16 of the 23 Red Tape Review recommendations have now been implemented in full. These are recommendations 1-3, 6-12, and 15-21, and they include the establishment of an independent appeals mechanism, improvements in inspections and important developments on communication with producers.

  The remaining seven are all in progress, and require longer-term action. The roll-out of Electronic Service Delivery (recommendation 2) for submission of scheme applications is now well underway, with a forward timetable publicised along with the External Communications Strategy. Recommendation 13 has been raised at EU level. It is mostly concerned with the simplification of the CAP, and is being discussed in the relevant EC working groups. Some of the elements of Recommendation 14, which deal mainly with specific Scheme operational or policy rules, have been implemented and others are under active consideration. The remaining four (namely 4, 5, 22 and 23) are also being actively progressed with further progress expected this autumn. These recommendations concern moving to a map based Field Data Sheet, integrating IACS further with the agricultural census, and producing guidance notes on specific situations.

Disabled People

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many women who are registered disabled are housebound.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally.

Education

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any unmet demand for the provision of a part-time, funded and accredited course which would qualify primary school teachers and whether those living in areas where there are no teacher education institutions are adequately served in terms of the opportunity to train to be primary school teachers.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any unmet demand for the provision of part-time primary initial teacher education. Teacher education institutions are free to tailor their mode of provision to meet any demand from those living in rural areas.

Enterprise

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Enterprise business birth rate strategy has been successful.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The recent independent review of the Business Birth Rate Strategy (BBRS) by the Fraser of Allander Institute indicates that the BBRS has had a positive effect, if not as much as was originally hoped. The report recognises that there have been improvements in many areas consistent with a positive contribution from the BBRS including, inter alia, raising interest and acceptance of entrepreneurship, access to finance and improved business support. We are of course reviewing the Strategy and will look to make such improvements as are considered necessary for the future.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers, psychologists, paediatricians, psychiatrists, social workers and general practitioners will need to be trained in awareness and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to ensure that the SIGN 52 guideline is fully implemented.

Malcolm Chisholm: A wide range of professionals are involved in the treatment of ADHD. It is not possible to establish with any degree of accuracy how many will have training needs. The implementation of SIGN guidelines is a matter for health boards, in consultation with other authorities as appropriate.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a specialist fund will be set up to assist local authorities, health boards, education departments and social work services in the ongoing training of staff to treat and manage attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are no plans to set up such a fund.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a specialist fund will be set up to implement the "shared care" approach recommended by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are no plans to set up such a fund.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the SIGN guidelines on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder will affect the budgets of local authorities and health boards.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is for health boards and local authorities to respond to the implications of ADHD, based on their assessment of local needs and available resources.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to undertake a national survey to ascertain the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: We have no such plans.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be an opportunity for parents and carers to request alternative tests for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder such as hair, blood and urine tests.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is open to parents and carers to ask for alternative tests for children with ADHD. Whether the request will be met is a matter for individual clinical judgment.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to support parents and carers of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is for health boards in consultation with education authorities and social work departments to provide such support on the basis of local needs.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many child and adolescent psychologists are currently working in Scotland broken down by (a) health board area and (b) local education authority area.

Susan Deacon: The information on child and adolescent psychologists for health board and local education authority areas is not available centrally. However, the numbers of psychologists employed in NHSScotland have risen from almost 302 in 1997 to almost 352 in 2000 (WTE) – an increase of 16%. Psychologists employed by health boards are shown in the table.

  Psychologists employed by NHSScotland by health board

  Headcount and whole time equivalent at 30 September 2000P

  

 

WTE 
  



Scotland 
  

351.8 
  



Argyll and Clyde 
  

20.7 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  

20.8 
  



Borders 
  

7.7 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

14.4 
  



Fife 
  

28.8 
  



Forth Valley 
  

16.9 
  



Grampian 
  

30.5 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

86.2 
  



Highland 
  

10.8 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

23.6 
  



Lothian 
  

61.7 
  



Orkney 
  

- 
  



Shetland 
  

- 
  



Tayside 
  

29.7 
  



Western Isles 
  

- 
  



  P Provisional.

  Source: National Manpower Statistics from Payroll.

  ISD Scotland.

  A collection system for clinical psychologists is being developed centrally and it is expected that more detailed information will be available by the end of this financial year.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the prevalance of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has been amongst juvenile offenders in Scotland since 1 January 2001.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is not possible to provide this information. The medical records of juvenile offenders are confidential between the individual and the clinicians involved in his or her care and would not necessarily be revealed to the police or judicial authorities.

Housing

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend advice and guidance on estimating demand for housing to reflect the recommendations in Rural Partnership for Change: Report of the National Steering Group with regard to identifying and measuring housing pressure and, in particular, whether it will recommend calculating demand for housing in rural areas as a ratio of supply.

Jackie Baillie: We are considering the findings of this report in the context of forthcoming guidance to local authorities on pressured area designations.

Housing

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will act on the recommendations in Rural Partnership for Change: Report of the National Steering Group that it should attach greater priority to funding affordable housing development for the private rented sector in rural areas, and that higher rates of grant for housing development should be available to the private sector in defined circumstances.

Jackie Baillie: At my request, Scottish Homes has again increased provisions in rural areas, from £45.1 million last year to £49.5 million in 2001-02. These resources, which are spread across Scottish Homes’ regions, are being made available for the provision of affordable rented housing by social landlords. We are not convinced that the resources available would be better targeted through private landlords. However, if it appears appropriate in the local circumstances, Scottish Homes can consider and make recommendations to ministers to support such projects. In addition, when development funding passes to local authorities, they will also be open to consider and suggest such alternative approaches.

Housing

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, when responsibility for grant funding for affordable housing is transferred to local authorities, it will require relevant authorities to operate a uniform project appraisal methodology across Scotland and what discretion it intends should be allowed for grant aid for projects in areas where costs exceed cost guidelines due to high land acquisition or infrastructure costs or constraints in local contracting capacity.

Jackie Baillie: As provided for under section 93 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, Scottish ministers will make regulations setting out the purpose, procedures and terms and conditions that all local authorities will have to observe in providing financial assistance for housing purposes. The Regulations will specify the scope for dealing with particular local circumstances. Ministers will consult local authorities and others about the content of the regulations.

Housing

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it proposes to undertake in the light of the recommendation in Rural Partnership for Change: Report of the National Steering Group that ways should be considered of allowing local authorities to enter into equity loan schemes to enable the construction of affordable housing by private developers.

Jackie Baillie: Scottish Homes is currently considering the benefits and uses of equity loans. We look forward to hearing its views in due course.

Housing

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the recommendation in Rural Partnership for Change: Report of the National Steering Group that the grant appraisal for self-build houses in certain rural areas should be amended to reflect self-builders’ labour costs.

Jackie Baillie: Scottish Homes is currently considering whether this amendment would be appropriate.

Housing

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will act on the recommendation in Rural Partnership for Change: Report of the National Steering Group that it should provide financial assistance to low-income households in the owner occupier sector in certain rural areas to enable them to convert or extend their houses to meet changing household needs.

Jackie Baillie: Scottish Homes currently has no authority to provide financial assistance of this type. We appreciate the reasons for this recommendation and the possible benefits, but it would be difficult to administer such a scheme while ensuring safeguards on the use of public money and establishing that the benefits provide value for money. However, all aspects of assistance to owners as it relates to housing quality are within the remit of the Housing Improvement Task Force. I have made arrangements for the report to be brought to the attention of the task force so that this and other issues can receive full consideration in its work.

Housing

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to implement the recommendation in Rural Partnership for Change: Report of the National Steering Group that it should require its own agencies, and seek to influence the agencies and departments of the Her Majesty’s Government, to dispose of housing stock only through strategies which will assist local authorities’ local housing strategies.

Jackie Baillie: The report suggests that public agencies disposing of houses should consult with the relevant local authority or develop stock disposal strategies that will assist local housing strategies. It recommends that the Executive should promote such policies as good practice with agencies it can influence and should seek to have them similarly promoted by the UK government.

  The Executive and Scottish Homes are prepared to enter into discussions on disposals of housing stock by other agencies in appropriate circumstances. In disposing of its own housing stock to registered social landlords, Scottish Homes takes account of local policies and needs by consulting with local authorities.

NHS Expenditure

Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what increase in energy costs will be incurred by the NHSiS as a result of the climate change levy and to what extent these costs will be offset as a result of the Chancellor’s intention to reduce National Insurance charges.

Malcolm Chisholm: Following the announcement of the climate change levy, the Scottish Executive Health Department decided against duplicating a cost comparison study to be undertaken by NHS Estates in England to estimate the effect of the increase in energy costs to the NHS as offset by the reduction in National Insurance Contributions. However, the NHSScotland Property and Environment Forum intends to address this issue as part of its annual commitment to monitor and report NHSScotland energy and environmental performance indicators.

Planning

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to create a specific primary dwelling land use category, as recommended in Rural Partnership for Change: Report of the National Steering Group .

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will act on the recommendation in Rural Partnership for Change: Report of the National Steering Group that it should explore the scope for creating a standard model planning agreement to facilitate the negotiation of agreements under section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 between developers and local authorities.

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to create a specific affordable housing land use category, as recommended in Rural Partnership for Change: Report of the National Steering Group .

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the recommendation in Rural Partnership for Change: Report of the National Steering Group that sustainable development requirements should be incorporated into planning consents.

Sarah Boyack: We are considering issues related to affordable housing as part of the review of National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 3: Land for Housing . We intend to publish a consultation draft of the revised NPPG by the end of the year.

Planning

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why the residents of the travellers’ site at Duncholgan were not consulted over the future of the nearby landfill site at Lingerton, Argyll.

Lewis Macdonald: Halcrow Crouch, the agents acting for the applicant, Shanks Waste Services confirmed to Argyll and Bute Council in a letter dated 1 December 2000 that neighbour notifications and plans had been issued to all the residents at Duncholgan. They were not required to do so as the Travelling People’s site lies outwith the statutory notifiable distance.

Planning

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many alternative sites were considered when the future of the landfill site at Lingerton, Argyll was discussed and whether the Lingerton site satisfies the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s guidelines on landfill.

Lewis Macdonald: The question of alternative sites is a matter for the developer before an application is submitted to the planning authority. The Scottish ministers would not take this into account in their consideration of a planning application notified to them by a local authority. I understand that Argyll and Bute Council does not consider that the Lingerton landfill site satisfies the regulatory requirements and this prompted the planning application for improvements. Once these are completed, the operator will require to apply to SEPA for a Permit under the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations 2000.

Roads

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will (a) detail all the proposed road improvements in the unpublished A77 Ayr-Stranraer Route Action Plan and (b) indicate the best estimate of the cost of each improvement at current prices.

Sarah Boyack: Apart from the ongoing Accident Investigation and Prevention, Mass Action and Traffic Management Works, the following proposed road improvements to the A77 between Ayr and Stranraer are planned:-

  


Scheme 
  

Current Estimate 
  



Turnberry Climbing Lane 
  

£2,400,000 
  



Blackneuk 
  

£600,000 
  



Burnside 
  

£1,500,000 
  



  The current Review of Route Action Plans (RAPs) includes the A77 RAP. A number of additional schemes between Ayr and Stranraer are being appraised as part of this review.

Roads

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it gave to the Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan Committee about including the proposed Girvan by-pass in its draft Ayrshire Structure Plan.

Lewis Macdonald: No advice was given to the Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan Committee about a Girvan by-pass, either by The Scottish Office (at plan submission stage) or by the Scottish Executive in the steps leading up to the plan’s approval.

Roads

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it gave to the Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan Committee and South Ayrshire Council about protecting the line of the proposed Girvan by-pass.

Lewis Macdonald: No advice was given to either the Committee or the Council about protecting any line for a proposed by-pass.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Scheme

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to keep former employees of the Scottish Transport Group informed of the progress of the wind-up of the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive maintains a website www.scotland.gov.uk/transport/stgpf on the matter of the Scottish Transport Group Pensions scheme and will update the information contained on its website when there are any substantial developments to report. In addition, when the Scottish Parliament has agreed proposals for the making of ex-gratia payments to members of the Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes details will be published in national newspapers.

Waste Disposal

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate whether any material contaminated with fly ash from waste burning incinerators has been used in building or construction materials in Scotland.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive has no plans to investigate whether fly ash from incinerators has been used in building or construction materials in Scotland.

Waste Disposal

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that (a) fly ash and (b) bottom ash from waste burning incinerators are disposed of safely.

Rhona Brankin: Ash from incinerators is defined as controlled waste and therefore subject to Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. As a result, the storage, treatment, disposal and transportation of both bottom ash and fly ash are strictly controlled to ensure that they do not cause a risk to the environment or human health. In addition, fly ash is classified as special waste under the Special Waste Regulations 1996. The disposal of special waste is carried out under strict conditions under the waste management regime which requires the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to be notified using consignment notes prior to all movements of the waste.